gracias

so i haven't posted in a couple weeks...time flies when you are havin fun.(by fun i mean balancing grad school, work, a family,church...). the past few weeks have been a challenge and have tested my limits and patience. school has been killer- midterms, big projects and papers. i pulled my first true all-nighter since i was a freshman at the Y. oh if it could have been that. the last all-nighter was spent with new friends (who now i consider the best people i know, and best friends anyone could ever have) in dorm room, playing videogames & loud music, pissing off the RA, breaking stuff and creating the fabric of what would become the infamous "wall of amazing."

this past one was spent rummaging through research on different ancient civilizations, comparing and contrasting architectural and cultural innovations. 10 pages later and a few highly caffeinated drinks i was off to work and ready to take on a new day. which happened to be the day that i had a visit with Dr. Eli- expert on sleep disorders- kinda fitting eh? in said visit i was tested and prodded with various instruments- checking my breathing canals, tissue in nasal passage and who knows what else. i was then fitted for a mouthguard to wear at night because i apparently clench my jaw while i sleep. the most dramatic discovery by the Doc was my prognosis for surgery. he set up an appointment to give my tonsils the boot. so on dec. 12 i will go under the knife, and be down for a week. nothing but pudding and popsicles.word.

so back to the title of this monstrous blog- i do have a lot to be thankful for this year. it has been a good one. full of new challenges, growth, reminders of what and who i have to make my life pretty good- so in lokestroke fashion the following is what i have to be full of thanks:
(in no particular order)

1.prescription drugs- i now can sleep with the help of a tiny pink pill. life is no fun with no good night sleep.

2.amazing friends- being away from the people you love most is hard.at the same time the separation makes you realize how amazing they are, and appreciate your time with them when the occasion comes. being sprawled all across the country,we have gone to live our lives and start/prepare for the future- but can always pick up right where we left off like we haven't been apart at all.

3.education- graduating from BYU and now beginning grad school has and is shaping my life and future. it is what makes me who i am- what i know, what i learn and now being able to throw in what i love into the education mix is a huge blessing. there is something about studying and learning something that you have a passion for. its great. even though its challenging- i may complain about projects/papers/assignments- i really do enjoy it.

4. family- my parents and sisters have really been there for us this year. mom and dad especially- we lived with them in the early summer and i can't thank you enough for that. dad, providing me with a chance to work side by side, and learn the ropes is something that i appreciate daily. i know its a huge sacrifice. support in general is amazing- whether it be to listen to my frustrations or help build models out of foam core- you guys are amazing.

5.the Etrain- she has put up with a lot from me this year. clearly has earned some stripes or wings. her tenacity and determination for the best inspires me to be my best. she has had to sacrifice the most, with me being gone most of the time- she has always tried to be supportive and encouraging. a lot of many lonely nights and dinners all by herself makes it hard. luckily she is an amazing woman, who stands by her man like Tammy Wynnette.

more cowbell

ok, so they don't use a cowbell but there is definite cowbell potential. this is my new favorite band. i got hooked on them about a week ago, thanks to my friend Lauren...aka L.boogz. she works with the mrs. and they are now attached at the hip. we went to the Dirty Sweet show on fri night at Canes in PB and it rocked me into oblivion. classic rock just got classier...check those dudes out- old school. the beards, staches, long freakin hair...they are truly from a different time. if you are into classic rock with face-melting riffs and vocals, you must check out the dirty. its been on a loop on my ipod all week.

i suppose i should update about FIRESTORM 2007- all is well in sd. well, for the most part. actually, lost of homes got burned and destroyed and there is a huge city wide relief effort goin down to restore, rebuild and replenish hope in the affected families. as for me and my house, we are safe and normal. a day or so was all we were inconvenienced. really lucky and thankful that we were safe. my inlaws got about the closest you could get- the fire came right up to their house, literally, and stopped at the fence. just an avocado tree was burned...thank you firefighters!

what else is goin on... pressure is on this week. projects, papers and tests oh my !! mid-semester pains are peeking their evil head out next week. a couple of doozies, but i think i will be able to handle it. i still am ejnoying the architecture thang. school is good and i am making better friends with my class buddies. i could deal without the drive...if only....

self proclaimed best husband ever: yesiree. i happen to listen to a local radio station, who was playing a mystery song each morning last week, then revealing the artist on fri. i happen to recognize the band...long story short, I ended up hooking etrain with a personal visit with her favorite band at the radio station. who is that you say? mmmmmm....let me think aBOut that Please. you do the math. needless to say, she was elated- got to listen to them gab with the DJs, play a few tunes and then she and her friend got a private tour of their tour bus. you will have to ask her all about it. she would LOVE to tell you.

throw another shrimp on the barbie

so as most of you know, life has been a little hectic the past few days.if you don't know, get your head out of the sand and look at the news.there are massive fires all along southern California including San Diego, Malibu and Santa Clarita.me and both of my sisters have had to evacuate from our homes and camp out in greener pastures. thats a stretch saying greener pastures because the smoke and ash is insane...

have you ever seen the movie Backdraft? thats basically san diego right now. Too bad Billy Baldwin and Kurt Russell can't come and rescue us. its actually not that bad, though.(for us anyway. san diego has been hit hard- but we are lucky to be safe and not too affected.) i suppose i am being dramatic. the air quality is definitely struggling- you can't really be outside for more than a couple minutes without wanting to puke. its raining ash and soot, covering everything with a gritty gray film...the sky is hazy and has an eerie orange tint to it- like you were wearing some 80's throwback oakleys with orange lenses or some snowboarding goggles with amber lenses for hazy days. nasty eh? i did not retouch this with photoshop.


basically everything has shut down- businesses, schools, freeways. its like a freakin ghost town around here. people were scrambling to get gas and get "the heck outta dodge"...all that madness caused some local gas stations to shut down. the only thing that has been open is good ole McD's. Gotta satisfy those chicken nugget and mcflurry cravings i suppose. local grade schools have shut down for the week...most universities are down to. i got a couple of days off...nice not having to commute to downtown. that just means i gotta work double time when we do have school again.

the missionaries have been shipped over to my parent's home from Poway and Ramona- their areas have basically burned down. who ordered the extra crispy? i feel bad for them because they have nothing to do. thats the worst thing as a missionary- feeling useless and helpless. i feel even worse for my mom, having to try and entertain them.

one thing that is really annoying about all this is the fact that the surf is firing right now. the offshore winds are making all spots open up and produce some of the best surf i have ever seen. problem is you can't breathe. that doesn't stop the die-hards though. i have seen people scramble to the beach holding towels and handkerchiefs over there mouths as they run across the street onto the sand. if you can't breath while you walk, how can you possibly breath while you surf? insane. even though i am dying for some good surf, i would rather keep my lungs please.

the update as promised

so i find myself posting a lot the same phrase: "more details to come" or something to that effect, yet rarely follow through. so i am trying to be a man of my word here on my previous posting.
La Escuela:
I am loving my grad school experience thus far and will break it down for ya.


the STUDENTS: NSAD is somewhat of an art school, so there is a huge population of really creative, eccentric, artsy-fartsy types. which is a refreshing change from the provo zoobie. i love being surrounded by BIG thinkers, and those who think outside the box. most of my fellow students are really nice, friendly and pretty down. i envisioned math cronies and engineers, with pocket protectors who could tell you the first 57 numbers of pi. i also envisioned pompous, egotistical know-it-alls, with a chip on there shoulder ready to prove anyone and everyone wrong.there are a couple of supercharged egoes with legs, but i suppose there must be opposition in all things.

the STAFF: its comprised of working professionals who work in the field as their full time job, then somehow find the energy to come down and teach us a thing or two. i can't help but compare to BYU professors, who were great in many ways, but struggled in others. in my previous college experience i found that the professors usually had a god-complex, and treated you as peons. as i got into upper level courses, that kinda faded, but there still was a distinct vibe of "I am teacher, you are student." i found my learning is much different thus far...the entire "campus"( i put that in parenthesis because it consists of 3 buildings) is much more laid back. everyone calls each other by their first names, students, teachers, administrators,etc. there is an evened out playing field i guess. where learning is exhibited and experienced across the board by both young and old, student and teacher.its pretty dope.one kinda funny thing is my studio teacher totally reminds me of my cousin Joel. imagine lil brown joel with an afro (and no receding hairline i suppose ;) ) and you got Avery. he is the man- graphic artist, designer, fine arts guru, and a multi-media warrior.

the LOAD- so far its pretty normal. my homework and school work mainly consists of projects, drawing, constructing models, creating--which i love. then there is the typical reading. can't get away from that i suppose. working anywhere from20 to 26 hours a week is doable, so far...knock on wood...without drowning.that will most likely change once i get into more heavy hitting classes and thesis writing etc. i know i have a tough road ahead of me, one that will require me to stretch my thinking and limitations, but i am stoked off the process.

the coolest thing is how excited i am about being in school. erika posed the question "who are you and what have you done with Tone," the other day becuase i was excited about going to school and talking with my professor. i sometimes ask the same question, with a smile, as i realize what i am becoming.

school of hardknocks

hello again from blogville. i have taken an unintentional leave of absence from my blog retreat. so sorry. the cause of my vacate is none other than something we like to call grad school. as you recall a while back i announced my acceptance to the New School of Architecture San Diego- or NSAD as it were- well, i have now been attending said institution for two weeks and must say "I Dig it."its kinda crazy to think that i would be all about goin back to school, and wanting to get in that proverbial ring again and go a few more rounds. i feel like i have been recharged and have a different outlook on my education. i feel like NSAD is totally the place for me, thus far, a kind of "artsy-fartsy" environment is one that i love. don't get me wrong, I loved my college experience at BYU- but the scholastic part of it was sub-par. i think i more enjoyed the people i surrounded myself with as mention in past postings. But i really feel excited to learn, excited to use the creative juices that i have been given. i will post later in greater detail about my inner thoughts towards the school, the teachers, my colleagues and fellow grad students. but for now, just know that i am a happy camper, folks.

tagged like the rest of them

my sis Jess tagged me with the following mind-bending questions to help everyone out there get to know me a wee bit better. here are the answers to appease all the fans world-wide:
1.)what were you doing 10 years ago? well, i was just learning how to drive-thinkin i was cool in my mom's jeep cherokee.i was terrified of girls, but might have just gotten over it thanks to EFY. if that was the case, i thought i was a pimp. i was skating a lot, basically killing myself and adjusting to the pressures, cliques and crap of high school.

2.)5 years ago: I was tromping through the streets of La Coruña, Spain on my mission. I would have just baptized (sept 7) one of the coolest converts ever-the infamous Juan Mosquera. I was at the top of my game, with my favorite comp Elder Dustin Naud, and lovin life.i was eatin Napolitanas and servin the lord.



3.)1 year ago: I had just celebrated my first wedding anniversary and started up school again at BYU for the fall semester. i was eating Cafe Rio, Bajio and J-Dawgs like it was goin outta style. i was surrounded by the most amazing friends anyone could ask for. i was enjoying the new addition of Buster in our lives, and loving watching Erika's eyes light up whenever anyone mentioned his name.(she still does)I was preparing for Erika's party, because hey--today is her birthday!!

4.)yesterday: i worked 8-5 at ADG and found out that one of my best friends in the world Ty is having a baby girl come January. I surfed after work and thouroughly enjoyed myself. the waves were decent, and the crowd was minimal.i took erika to Anthropologie and acted as her fashion guru-picked out a new dress for her that flatters her in all the right places! i also helped her clean the apt. so she could wake up to cleanliness on her b-day.

5.)5 snacks i enjoy: currently i can't get enough of Costco trail mix. i mack it everyday at work. Rico's burritos-- guess its not a snack, but i love 'em. dried mangoes. starburst. tortilla chips with guac or salsa!

6.)5 things i would do if i suddenly won $100 mil.: pay off my grad school, buy e-train a new car- Porsche Cayenne SUV and then drive her buggy off a cliff. get some upgrades for my Tacoma- wheels, tires, exhaust,lift, etc. buy a new house by the beach.invest a whole lot.



7.)5 locations to run off to: italy, hawaii, puerta vallarta, spain, costa rica.

8.)5 bad habits: leaving cupboards and drawers open. letting the laundry pile up. i mumble. being too laid-back.forgetting to clean the bathroom each saturday.

9.)5 things i like doing:surfing, eating fresh mex,chilling with my hot-a wifey, wakeboarding and hangin out on the lake in general.getting together with good friends and family..anything artsy.

10.)5 tv shows: Scrubs, La Ink, Ace of Cakes, Seinfeld, Arrested Development

11.)5 things i hate doing: laundry, cleaning the bathroom, looking at how much taxes get taken out of my paycheck, not being able to sleep at night, trying to find where Buster peed on the carpet and then cleaning it up.

12.)5 biggest joys: Erika, Bust-a Bus, free anything, surfing at sunset, new technology.(i am a nerd)

strokes of genius

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